NEM#242: Marshall Crenshaw Subtracts

Marshall began creating his catchy, harmonically thick rock tunes in the early ’80s with six major label albums, but went indie in the ’90s to record four more as well as several EPs and live collections.

We discuss “Stranger and Stranger,” newly reworked for From the Hellhole (2025) but originally released on the Stranger and Stranger EP (2012), “Right On Time” from Jaggedland (2009), “Fantastic Planet of Love” from Life’s Too Short (1991), and we conclude by listening to Our Town” from Field Day (1983). Intro: “Someday, Someway” from Marshall Crenshaw (1982). More at marshallcrenshaw.com.

Hear all of “Someday, Someway,” and watch it live in 1982. One of his notable videos from back in the day was “Whenever You’re On My Mind.” See “Our Town” performed live, a live in-studio performance of “Stranger and Stranger,” and live “Fantastic Planet of Love.”

Watch him singing Buddy Holly tunes live with the actual Crickets (Buddy Holly’s backing band), and here he is in La Bamba. Hear that Dianne Warren tune he sang that we mention; reportedly she got mad at him for changing some lyrics. (Clearly he liked it enough at the time to perform it on Letterman.)

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